Device for a fuel tank in vehicles

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a device for vehicle fuel tanks, which includes a tank ( 1 ) having a rounded rectangular cross section with rounded corners ( 5-8 ) and an upper limiting plane ( 15 ) which substantially coincides with the upper side ( 9 ) of the tank. A lower limiting plane ( 16 ) coincides substantially with the bottom side ( 10 ) of the tank. Carrying brackets ( 2 ) cooperate with a flexible strapping unit ( 3 ) for attaching the tank to the vehicle. The carrying brackets ( 2 ) are shaped as a substantially vertical cradle, having a web ( 21 ) and a support surface ( 30 ) facing the inner side ( 12 ) of the tank and, at the top, merging into an upper support protrusion ( 22 ) and, at the bottom, merging into a lower, laterally pointing support protrusion ( 23 ). Both support protrusions have a support surface ( 31, 32 ) arranged to bear on respective rounded corner ( 7, 8 ) of that tank. The cradle extends vertically so that the upper support protrusion ( 22 ) is substantially under the upper limiting plane ( 15 ) and the lower support protrusion ( 11 ) is substantially above the lower limiting plane ( 16 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a device for a fuel tank in vehicles,in particular a device for supporting and holding the tank to thevehicle, in the form of at least one support bracket which is attachedto the vehicle and provided with means for holding the tank to thesupport bracket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

So far, the most widely used solution for carrying a fuel tank, inparticular for heavy vehicles, is to utilize an L-shaped support bracketwhich protrudes under the tank and which cooperates with tighteningstraps which are mounted on the outer ends of the support bracket andwhich together with the bracket extend around the tank and thereby holdit to the bracket. In this regard, the tank is usually rectangular andpresents corner portions which are slightly rounded. As regards thistype of support bracket, the component protruding under the tankrequires some space in the vertical direction. This implies that thetotal space intended for the tank and the bracket cannot be utilizedeffectively for storing of fuel, since the requirement as regards groundclearance puts a limit to the space in the downwards direction.Furthermore, circular tanks are known, which involve a drawback due tothe fact that they offer less volume and also tend to rotate in theirmounting assembly, which in turn exerts forces on the tank assembly,i.e. its connectors for the connecting conduits.

For reasons of safety, circular tanks normally require particular sideimpact protection devices due to their shape. This increases the weightand cost of the vehicle.

From DE-A1-3,445,427, a fuel tank having two brackets which areintegrated with the tank is previously known. This has been accomplishedby the tank being particularly provided with threaded bushing insertswhich allow the tank to be screwed directly to the bracket. Thissolution is very costly as regards both manufacturing and assembly.Furthermore, the bracket protrudes a certain distance above the top sideof the tank, which implies that neither this known solution involves anoptimum use of the space which is available for fuel storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a device for a fueltank in which the available space is used in an optimum manner forstoring the fuel and which tank is maintained securely in a selectedposition.

Said object is accomplished by means of a device according to thepresent invention, in which the support bracket forming part thereof isdesigned with a cradle, the vertical extension of which lies essentiallywithin the upper and lower limiting planes of the tank.

Due to the fact that the support bracket generally does not protrudebeyond the vertical dimensions of the tank, the tank can be dimensionedin an optimum manner for maximum fuel volume, while still maintaining areliable retaining function and without the need for fastening meansdirectly integrated with the tank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in the following in the form of anembodiment and with reference to the appended drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows an end view of the device according to the invention, forcarrying and retaining a fuel tank, and

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the device and the fuel tankaccording to FIG. 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2, the device according to the inventionis intended for supporting and retaining a fuel tank 1 essentially bymeans of two or more support brackets 2, according to the shownembodiment two support brackets 2, and a corresponding number oftightening straps 3 which are joined to the support brackets and whichtogether with the corresponding support bracket extend around the fueltank 1. The tank is primarily of the type which is mounted on heavyvehicles such as trucks, buses and the like and which is mounted alongthe side of the vehicle under a load-container or a vehicle body,usually on a longitudinally extending part of the vehicle, for exampleits chassis, in the shown example in the form of a longitudinallyextending U-beam 4. The fuel tank is essentially shaped as aparallelepiped or as a box, having an essentially rectangularcross-section with relatively rounded edge portions 5, 6, 7, 8 or cornerportions. In this manner, the tank presents a top side 9, a bottom side10, an outer side 11 and an inner side 12. These sides consist either ofplane or slightly cambered portions which adjoin the rounded cornerportions 5-8. In addition to these limiting surfaces, the tank presentstwo opposite end sides 13, 14 which can be plane or cambered. The topside 9 of the tank 1 generally defines the upper limiting plane of thetank, which is indicated by means of a chain line 15, whereas the bottomside 10 of the tank generally defines the lower limiting plane of thetank, which is indicated by means of a chain line 16. Only a fillingtube 17 with a cap 18 protrudes above the upper limiting plane 15.However, said components extend in the lateral direction and normallyprotrude outside a vehicle bodywork, if such is provided, directly ontop of the fuel tank and consequently do not steal any space from thetank in the vertical direction. The upper part of the tank 1 is alsoprovided with a not shown tank assembly in the form of connectors for afuel pipe and a level sensor. The positioning of the assembly is alsochosen in a manner so that it does not affect the total space requiredin the vertical direction. A drain plug can also be arranged in thebottom side 10 of the tank, which plug also protrudes slightly beyondthe lower limiting plane 16 of the tank. However, this does not have anypractical importance as regards the total use of the space. The exactlocation of the upper and lower limiting planes 9, 10 can either bedirectly coinciding with the top side and the bottom side, respectively,or more precisely, and according to the present case, can be level withthe top side 19 and the bottom side 20, respectively, of the tighteningstrap 3. However, this has no practical importance due to the moderatethickness of the strap, which usually is less than 2 mm. Furthermore, inconnection with the tightening strap, the perimeter surface or mantlesurface of the tank can be provided with guide beads on each side ofeach tightening strap. However, this has no practical importance eitheras regards the definition of the upper and lower limiting planes 9, 10.

In accordance with the invention, each support bracket 2 is generallydesigned as a vertically extending cradle which comprises a web 21extending vertically along the inner side 12 of the tank and, in itsupper portion, merging it to an upper support protrusion 22 and, in itslower portion, merging into a lower support protrusion 23. The web 21presents a mounting side 24 which preferably is completely plane andnormally extends vertically, having at least one upper portion which isin contact with the outside 25 of the vehicle beam 4. As regardsfastening, a number of mounting screws 26 are in a conventional mannerinserted through holes in the beam and a mounting surface 24 and aretightened by means of nuts.

In accordance with the invention, the upper end of the support bracket 2is furthermore designed in a manner so that its upper edge line 27generally does not extend above the upper limiting plane 15 of the tank1 and so that its lower end surface 28, in a corresponding manner, doesnot extend below the lower limiting plane 20 of the tank. In the shownexample, the upper end surface 27 is plane and coincides with the upperlimiting plane 19, whereas the lower end surface 28 also presents aplane portion which coincides with the lower limiting plane 16 andcontinues as a heavily rounded portion 29.

In accordance with the invention, the support bracket 2 presents asupport surface 30 which faces the tank 1 and which is entirely shapedin accordance with the tank's contour shape, along the contact surfacebetween the tank and the support surface of the support bracket. Moreprecisely, the support surface extends in a generally plane or slightlycambered manner in the vertical direction, along the inner side 12 ofthe tank. In its upper portion, it changes to a concave, preferablycircular, arc-shaped and rounded portion 31 corresponding to thepreferably circular, arc-shaped and rounded corner portion 8 of the tankand forms a support surface for the upper support protrusion 22. Also,in its lower parts it changes to a corresponding concavely rounded,lower support surface 32 of the lower support protrusion 23, which isalso formed in accordance with the corresponding rounded corner portion7 of the tank, i.e. it presents the same radius of curvature as saidcorner portion.

The brackets 2 with their protrusions 22, 23 extend above and below thetank, preferably approximately 20% of the tank's width or transversecross-dimension (“W” as shown in FIG. 1), though less than approximately30% of the width. The support brackets 2 can be manufactured from sheetsteel or aluminum which is designed so that the cross-section defines asuitable profile. According to the shown example, a profile shapegenerally resembling a hat profile and comprising two mounting flangesis chosen, which flanges define the support surface 24 against the beam4 and two mutually parallel side walls 33 and the support surface 30facing the tank. The side walls 33 are situated at such a distance thata space is formed therebetween, which space presents a widthaccommodating the width of the tightening strap 3. The mounting ends 34,35 of the tightening strap are connected both to the front end section36 of the upper support protrusion 22 and the front end section 36 ofthe lower support protrusion 23, through an opening 37, 38 in therespective portion and to a mounting location 39 and 40, respectively,in the respective support protrusion. The mounting ends 34, 35 comprisea loop-shaped, riveted end of the tightening strap, which in its lowerportion runs about a lower mounting pin 41 forming part of the lowermounting location 40. Said pin extends between the parallel side walls33 of the support bracket in each support protrusion, and are forexample mounted in opposite holes in the side walls. In a correspondingmanner, an upper mounting pin 41 is mounted between holes in the uppersupport protrusion 22. For tightening the tightening strap 3, therebyproviding the embracing force against the tank 1, the upper end sectionof the band is provided with a tightening device 43 having a tighteningscrew 44. Said screw can be screwed into a threaded hole in the mountingpin 41 and is inserted through a hole in a tightening pin 45 in theloop-shaped end of the strap and can be accessed via an opening in theband provided for the tightening thereof. For practical reasons, themounting locations which are formed of the two mounting pins 41 aresituated slightly below and above, respectively, the upper and lowerlimiting plane 15, 16, respectively. In this manner, the tightening bandis urged against the upper side 9 and lower side 10, respectively, ofthe tank. The embracing force or retaining force of the tightening strappresents a resulting force which is directed essentially horizontallytowards the vertical cradle.

By means of the above-mentioned arrangement, an effective and reliablesecuring of a fuel tank is accomplished, which in combination with theretaining function is highly optimized as regards the space available bymeans of the rectangular basic shape, without the bracket protruding inthe vertical direction beyond the limiting planes of the fuel tank. Inthis manner, the tank can be dimensioned so as to utilize the availablespace in the vehicle in an optimum manner. Due to the supportingfunction of the web 21 and the protrusions 22, 23 together with theretaining action of the tightening strap 3, no further fastening meansare required which keeps the manufacturing and assembly costs to a lowlevel. By means of the relatively plane outer side 11 of the tank, noseparate side impact protection devices are required, which reduces theweight and additionally saves costs.

The invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment shown inthe drawings, but can be varied within the scope of the appended claims.For example, the two shown support brackets can be replaced by onesingle wide bracket, or a larger number of brackets, depending on thelongitudinal extension of the tank. The mounting of the tightening strapcan be solved in other ways. Furthermore, the tightening strap can bereplaced by another tightening element, such as a wire, cable, chain orthe like. The brackets can be given a plurality of alternative profileshapes which provide a mounting surface towards the vehicle and ashape-locked support surface towards the tank, i.e. a support surfaceextending along the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the tank so asto prevent it from rotating.

Even if the bracket generally does not protrude in the upwards ordownwards direction beyond the horizontal limiting planes of the tank,the scope of the invention still comprises the fact that the tank canprotrude slightly, such as approximately 1-4% of the height of the tank,i.e. its vertical dimension. The tightening device need not be arrangedon the end of the tightening strap, but may alternatively be placed at adistance from the mounting locations of the strap, for example on itsmidpoint.

What is claimed is:
 1. An assembly for mounting a fuel tank in a vehicle, comprising: a) at least one bracket having an upper end, a lower end, a planar mounting side, and a web extending perpendicularly from said mounting side, said web including a support surface including a first portion of the support surface corresponding to a first corner portion of a fuel tank, a second portion of the support surface corresponding to a second corner portion of a fuel tank, and a vertical portion of the support surface extending vertically between said first portion of the support surface and said second portion of the support surface; and b) a flexible tightening element adapted to be connected to said upper end and said lower end so that said tightening element is disposed at or below said upper end and at or above said lower end and so that said upper end and said lower end prevent rotation of the tank.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said upper end and said lower end are adapted to connect with said tightening element and said tightening element is connected to said bracket so as to apply a tightening force in a direction towards said bracket.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said support surface includes a vertical support surface shaped to correspond to the shape of a side of a fuel tank.
 4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein said upper support surface and said lower support surface are shaped to correspond to the shape of a rounded corner of a fuel tank.
 5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said upper end and said lower end have a length of between about 20% and 30% of a width of said tank.
 6. A mounted fuel tank, comprising: a) a fuel tank having a generally rectangular shape including a top planar side and at least a first rounded corner portion and a second rounded corner portion; b) at least one bracket having a a planar mounting side, and a web extending perpendicularly from said mounting side, said web having a support surface extending from an upper end of said web to a lower end of said web for connecting to the vehicle, c) said support surface including a first portion at said upper end corresponding to said first corner portion of said fuel tank so that said upper end does not extend above said top side of said tank a second portion at said lower end corresponding to said second corner portion of said fuel tank, and a vertical support surface extending vertically between said first portion and said second portion; and d) a flexible tightening element connected to said upper end and said lower end so that said tightening element is disposed at or below said upper end and at or above said lower end, so that said upper end and said lower end prevent rotation of the tank, and so that said upper end does not extend above said top side of said tank when said tank is disposed at or below the upper limiting plane on the vehicle.
 7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said upper end and said lower end are adapted to connect with said tightening element and said tightening element is connected to said bracket so as to apply a tightening force to aid tank in the direction towards said bracket.
 8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said vertical support surface extends along a vertically extending side of said tank.
 9. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said support surface includes a vertical support surface shaped to correspond to the shape of a side of said tank.
 10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said upper support surface and said lower support surface are shaped to correspond to the shape of a rounded corner of said tank.
 11. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said upper end extends over a top side of said tank and said lower end extends under a bottom side of said tank.
 12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said upper end and said lower end extend between about 20% and 30% of a width of said tank. 